Park board approves upgrades for Moody Gardens

March 13, 2013 9:29:06 AM PDT

GALVESTON, TX --

A popular tourist spot in Texas will get $58 million in upgrades including an interactive exhibit featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.

Galveston's park board in Tuesday approved the improvements for Moody Gardens. General manager John Zendt says the projects will be paid for by the Moody Foundation, which funds, operates and supports the city-owned tourist attraction.

The Galveston County Daily News reports SpongeBob and other Nickelodeon cartoon characters will be used to teach environmental and conservation. Zendt says the Discovery Pyramid will remove its outdated motion-based rides and replace them with space for traveling exhibits.

New stingray touch tanks and Humboldt penguin exhibits will be added. A ropes course and a zip line will be installed at the Palm Beach Water Park.

The upgrades should be completed by 2018. ___________________________________________________________